Microsoft rolls out Windows 11 preview updates with File Explorer improvements

Microsoft is rolling out new preview updates for Windows 11 across the Beta, Experimental, and Release Preview channels. These updates, including the October 2026 update (KB5124010) for versions 25H2 and 24H2, introduce several functional improvements and interface refinements.

Key enhancements in the Experimental channel include optimizations to the File Explorer search, which now utilizes an indexer to significantly increase speed and provide a consistent experience with the File Explorer home page. Additionally, the context menu experience is being improved with new instructional prompts for first-time users, a toggle to disable customized context menu items, and fixes for the ‘Send to’ function.

Because Microsoft often employs a gradual rollout strategy, some features may remain hidden even after an update is installed. Users looking to access these features immediately may be able to use tools like ViVeTool to manually unlock them, though availability can still be limited by specific hardware or regional restrictions.